Lid wrench

Abstract

A lid wrench for removing lids from jars and other containers, which lid wrench is characterized in a first preferred embodiment by a smooth, elongated lug-receiving member slidably receiving a single sliding lug provided with inwardly-facing lug teeth. In a second preferred embodiment, the lug-receiving member is provided with spaced slots or teeth for selectively receiving an engaging shoulder or shoulders of the sliding lug. A fixed handle is attached to an offset end of the lug-receiving member opposite the sliding lug and an opening and/or ring maybe provided in the opposite end of the lug-receiving member for suspending the lid wrench from a nail or other support. A spring-biased, curved jaw, provided with multiple, spaced jaw teeth which face the lug teeth on the sliding lug, is pivotally secured to the offset end of the lug-receiving member spaced from the fixed handle, and receives a jaw handle. Gripping and squeezing of the fixed handle and the jaw handle pivots the curved jaw against the bias of the spring in a camming action against a jar lid or cap disposed between the jaw teeth and the lug teeth located on the sliding lug, to lock the lug on the lug-receiving member and loosen the lid or cap responsive to twisting of the lid wrench.

Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lid wrench for removing a lid from a container, comprising elongated lug-receiving means; lug means having an opening for receiving said lug-receiving means, said lug means adapted to slidably traverse said lug-receiving means and selectively engage said lug-receiving means in locked relationship; a fixed handle carried by said lug-receiving means in fixed relationship; jaw means pivotally carried by said lug-receiving means in spaced relationship with respect to said fixed handle; and a jaw handle fixedly carried by said jaw means, whereby said lug means and said jaw means engage the lid and the lid is loosened on the container responsive to insertion of said lid wrench over the lid between said lug means and said jaw means, squeezing said jaw handle toward said fixed handle and twisting said lid wrench. 
     
     
       2. The lid wrench of claim 1 further comprising lug teeth provided on said lug means and wherein said lug opening is tapered at the top and bottom, whereby said lug means is selectively locked on said lug-receiving means in non-slidable configuration with said lug teeth facing said jaw means. 
     
     
       3. The lid wrench of claim 1 wherein said jaw means further comprises a jaw having one end pivotally secured to said lug-receiving means and further comprising a set of jaw teeth provided on said jaw, with said jaw teeth facing said lug means. 
     
     
       4. The lid wrench of claim 1 wherein: (a) said lug opening is tapered at the top and bottom and further comprising lug teeth provided on said lug, whereby said lug is selectively locked on said lug-receiving means in non-slidable configuration with said lug teeth facing said jaw means; and   (b) said jaw means further comprises a jaw having one end pivotally secured to said lug-receiving means and further comprising a set of jaw teeth provided on said jaw, with said jaw teeth facing said lug teeth on said lug when said lug is disposed in said engaging configuration.   
     
     
       5. The lid wrench of claim 1 wherein said lug-receiving means is further characterized by an elongated lug bar having a lug-receiving segment for slidably receiving said lug means. 
     
     
       6. The lid wrench of claim 5 wherein: (a) said lug opening is tapered at the top and bottom and further comprising lug teeth provided on said lug, whereby said lug is selectively locked on said lug-receiving means in non-slidable configuration with said lug teeth facing said jaw means; and   (b) said jaw means further comprises a curved jaw having one end pivotally secured to said lug bar and further comprising a set of jaw teeth provided on the concave side of said jaw, with said jaw teeth facing said lug teeth on said lug.   
     
     
       7. The lid wrench of claim 1 further comprising bias means disposed between said lug-receiving means and said jaw means, said bias means having one end engaging said lug-receiving means and the opposite end of said bias means engaging said jaw means, for normally biasing said jaw handle in extended relationship with respect to said fixed handle and said jaw means in extended relationship with respect to said lug means. 
     
     
       8. The lid wrench of claim 7 wherein said lug opening is tapered at the top and bottom and further comprising lug teeth provided on said lug, whereby said lug is selectively locked on said lug-receiving means in non-slidable configuration with said lug teeth facing said jaw means. 
     
     
       9. The lid wrench of claim 8 wherein said jaw means further comprises a curved jaw having one end pivotally secured to said lug-receiving means and further comprising a set of jaw teeth provided on the concave side of said jaw, said jaw teeth facing said lug teeth on said lug when said lug is disposed in said non-slidable configuration. 
     
     
       10. The lid wrench of claim 9 wherein said lug-receiving means is further characterized by an elongated lug bar having a lug-receiving segment for slidably receiving said lug means. 
     
     
       11. The lid wrench of claim 1 further comprising bar teeth provided on said lug-receiving means for engagement by said lug means and selectively locking said lug means on said lug-receiving means and securing the lid between said lug means and said jaw means. 
     
     
       12. The lid wrench of claim 11 wherein: (a) said lug opening is tapered at the top and bottom for engaging said bar teeth and further comprising lug teeth provided on said lug, whereby said lug is selectively locked on said lug-receiving means in non-slidable configuration with said lug teeth facing said jaw means; and   (b) said jaw means further comprises a curved jaw having one end pivotally secured to said lug-receiving means and further comprising a set of jaw teeth provided on the concave side of said jaw, said jaw teeth facing said lug teeth on said lug when said lug is disposed in said non-slidable configuration.   
     
     
       13. The lid wrench of claim 12 wherein said lug support is further characterized by an elongated lug bar having a lug-receiving segment for receiving said lug means and an offset handle mount segment extending from said lug-receiving segment. 
     
     
       14. The lid wrench of claim 13 further comprising bias means having one end engaging said lug bar and the opposite end of said bias means engaging said jaw for normally biasing said jaw handle in extended relationship with respect to said fixed handle and said jaw in extended relationship with respect to said lug. 
     
     
       15. The lid wrench of claim 14 wherein said bias means further comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
       16. The lid wrench of claim wherein said lug-receiving means is further characterized by a polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
       17. The lid wrench of claim 16 wherein: (a) said jaw means further comprises a curved jaw having one end pivotally secured to said lug-receiving means and further comprising a set of jaw teeth provided on the concave side of said jaw, with said jaw teeth facing said lug teeth on said lug means when said lug means is disposed in said non-slidable configuration; and   (b) said lug opening is tapered at the top and bottom and further comprising lug teeth provided on said lug means, whereby said lug is selectively locked on said lug-receiving means in non-slidable configuration with said lug teeth facing said jaw.   
     
     
       18. The lid wrench of claim 17 further comprising bar teeth provided on said lug-receiving means for engaging said lug means and selectively locking said lug means on said lug-receiving means and securing the lid between said lug means and said jaw means. 
     
     
       19. A lid wrench for loosening a lid from a container, comprising an elongated lug bar; lug means having a bevelled lug opening for receiving said lug bar in slidable relationship; a fixed handle carried by one end of said lug bar in fixed relationship; a jaw pivotally carried by said one end of said lug bar in spaced relationship with respect to said lug means; and a jaw handle carried by said jaw in fixed relationship, whereby said lug means and said jaw engage the lid and the lid is loosened on the container responsive to insertion of said lid wrench over the lid with the lid located between said lug means and said jaw, squeezing said jaw handle toward said fixed handle to lock said lug means on said lug bar and twisting said lid wrench. 
     
     
       20. The lid wrench of claim 19 wherein said lug means further comprises a lug transversely spanning said lug bar, at least one lug shoulder provided in said lug opening and lug teeth provided on said lug, whereby said lug is selectively pivoted with respect to said lug support to engage said lug shoulder and said lug bar in non-slidable, locked configuration, with said lug teeth facing said jaw means. 
     
     
       21. The lid wrench of claim 20 wherein said lug bar is further characterized by an elongated member having a cross-section shaped in the configuration of a polygon. 
     
     
       22. The lid wrench of claim 21 further comprising bar teeth provided on said lug bar for engagement with said lug shoulder and selectively locking said lug on said lug bar for securing the lid between said lug and said jaw. 
     
     
       23. The lid wrench of claim 22 further comprising bias means having one end engaging said lug bar and the opposite end of said bias means engaging said jaw, for normally biasing said jaw handle in extended relationship with respect to said fixed handle and said jaw in extended relationship with respect to said lug. 
     
     
       24. The lid wrench of claim 23 wherein said bias means further comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
       25. A lid wrench for loosening a lid from a container, comprising an elongated, round bar; a longitudinal slot provided in said bar; a lug having a bar opening for receiving said bar and a pin carried by said lug, said pin projecting into said bar opening and said slot, whereby said lug is slidably and non-rotatably disposed on said bar for selectively engaging said bar in locked configuration; a fixed handle carried by said bar in fixed relationship; a curved jaw pivotally carried by said bar in spaced relationship with respect to said fixed handle; and a jaw handle fixedly carried by said curved jaw, whereby said lug is slidably adjusted on said bar to engage the lid when said curved jaw engages the opposite side of the lid and the lid is loosened on the container responsive to insertion of said lid wrench over the lid with the lid located between said lug and said curved jaw, squeezing said jaw handle toward said fixed handle and twisting said lid wrench in the counterclockwise direction. 
     
     
       26. The lid wrench of claim 25 further comprising bar teeth provided on said bar for engaging said lug and selectively locking said lug on said bar and securing the lid between said lug and said jaw. 
     
     
       27. The lid wrench of claim 26 further comprising bias means having one end engaging said bar and the opposite end of said bias means engaging said jaw, for normally biasing said jaw handle in extended relationship with respect to said fixed handle and said jaw in extended relationship with respect to said lug. 
     
     
       28. The lid wrench of claim 27 wherein said bias means further comprises a coil spring.